Wildwood Golf Course

Wildwood Golf Course, in Portland, OR near Scappoose, is a unique and memorably fun golf course. Tucked into the base of a ridged forested hillside that runs parallel to the Columbia River, Wildwood has a beautiful, natural setting. Wildwood is very hilly, and best navigated in a cart. The elevation change and sloping terrain play a large factor on most holes, and provide many amusing challenges. A couple of holes are borderline quirky, but add a lot of character to this special golf experience. The conditions fluctuate like many area courses but when it’s in shape, Wildwood is one of the best affordable courses in the area. No matter what the case may be, it’s hard to not have fun at Wildwood, where originality and pleasant scenery are a constant.

Wildwood Golf Course has short yardage for an 18 hole regulation course. A lack of distance is countered by an array of challenges, starting with proper club selection. The ideal landing zones are favorably large, but hitting them may require clubbing down. Risk-and-reward shots are present and enticing, but inaccuracy can result in unfavorable lies. Elevation changing flight paths must also be accounted for when shot planning. Trees are present throughout as forest surrounds the course and serves as expansive out-of-bounds. Trees also line some of the holes, and some stand-alone trees were preserved as strategically located obstacles. Wildwood has a handful of ponds, as well as several interrupting creeks. Bunkers exist on several holes, but sand is not a big factor here. The greens provide a nice mix of flat and sloped greens. They provide ordinary speeds throughout the season, and when in shape, make Wildwood an excellent destination.

Wildwood is best suited for visiting with the intention to play. There is a driving range, but it has limited stalls and is short of having full distance. It’s adequate for warm up swings, but lacking for complete practice purposes. For nearby residents, however, it’s serviceable enough to frequent. They also have a solid putting green, though it’s not conducive for chipping, as it has no surrounding surface to hit from. The pro shop is basic but sufficient, with merchandise and a small snack bar. Perched off the pro shop is a nice deck overlooking the plush, green course.

Vernonia Golf Club

Vernonia Golf Club, in Vernonia, OR is a short country golf course nestled in the hills of the Oregon Coast Range. Vernonia is currently a nine hole course, although there are plans to expand the course to 18 Holes in the near future. A second tee box is available for 18 Hole rounds, although the only major difference lies on the 9th Hole, which becomes a Par 5 on the back nine.

Vernonia Golf Club consists primarily of straightforward tree lined holes, including six Par 4’s, one Par 5 (although the Blue Tees offer an additional Par 5) and two Par 3’s. The forested environment of Vernonia Golf Club requires accuracy off the tee, or you may run through a few sleeves of golf balls over the course of a nine hole round. Sand comes into play on occasion, as do a few wetlands and streams. The greens at Vernonia run on the slow side, but are generally well maintained.

Playing Vernonia Golf Club

Vernonia Golf Club begins with a straight away Par 4 that is deceivingly difficult due to its left side treeline, which juts in on the left side and an elevated green. The second hole is another short, straight Par 4 with a stream running across the fairway. The stream is reachable, so driver is not advisable from this elevated tee box. Yet another Par 4 awaits you on the third tee before reaching your first Par 3 on the 4th Hole, a 115 yard hole with sand guarding either side of the green.  Holes #5 and #6 run alongside each other and both are tree-lined Par 4’s. The 7th Hole offers perhaps the most unique hole on the course, a tight, uphill 149 yard Par 3. The only Par 5 on the course is the 8th Hole, and it’s fairly short at only 436 yards. Many players will be aiming to reach the green in two, but be advised that the hole is tight. Finally, the 9th Hole brings you back to the clubhouse, the Final Par 4 on the course.

The Reserve (North Course)

The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, in Aloha, OR is one of the Portland area’s finest, and unrivaled for its combination of completeness and quality. The Reserve offers two 18-hole courses of championship caliber that rotate biweekly in terms of accessibility to the public. This semi-private club and former host of the Jeld-Wen Tradition and Umpqua Bank Challenge is comprised of the North and South courses, designed by separate architects. Both sides are equally special yet rather different in style. The South Course at The Reserve plays longer and straighter with many tree lines and loads of sand, while the North Course requires more target golf along its shorter layout through rolling wetlands. No matter which course you play, you will encounter plenty of challenges and points of appreciation. The grounds at The Reserve are beautifully landscaped and impeccably maintained throughout both courses and beyond. Upon entering The Reserve’s long vineyard-lined driveway, and pulling up to the prominent chateau-style clubhouse, the tone is appropriately set for a first-rate golf experience.

The North Course

The North Course, open to the public during the second half of every month, is one of two superb golf courses on The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club’s grounds. Using rolling hills, tall grass and water as its primary characteristics, The North Course requires both brawn and craft to navigate successfully. From the tee box, you will initially noticed the well crafted grounds of the course. Tee shots require precision, and smart golf is a must. Wetlands run throughout the course, presenting ample opportunity to lose your golf ball. Greens on the North Course generally include catch areas, penalizing errant approach shots. Once on the putting surface, balls will roll fast and hold their line. The greens however are very difficult, and can be hard to read. Notably, The North Course features the areas only triple green, making up the 1st, 8th and 17th holes finale.

The Reserve (South Course)

The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club, in Aloha, OR is one of the Portland area’s finest, and unrivaled for its combination of completeness and quality. The Reserve offers two 18-hole courses of championship caliber that rotate biweekly in terms of accessibility to the public. This semi-private club and former host of both the Jeld-Wen Tradition and Umpqua Bank Challenge is comprised of the North and South courses, designed by separate architects. Both sides are equally special yet rather different in style.The South Course at The Reserve plays longer and straighter with many tree lines and loads of sand, while the North Course requires more target golf along its shorter layout through rolling wetlands. No matter which one you play, you will encounter plenty of challenges and points of appreciation. The grounds at The Reserve are beautifully landscaped and impeccably maintained throughout both courses and beyond. Upon entering The Reserve’s long vineyard-lined driveway, and pulling up to the prominent chateau-style clubhouse, the tone is appropriately set for a first-rate golf experience.

The South Course

The South Course at The Reserve, arguably the tougher of the two courses, has a traditional American style with many tree-lined holes. These large trees stand in beds of soil and pine needles, not grass, making recovery shots all the more challenging. The South Course’s layout is relatively flat and straight with some mild undulation and rolling terrain along the rough and near the greens.

What differentiates the design of the South Course is its arsenal of white-sand bunkers. These bunkers help consume a lot of space on the otherwise roomy layouts and are plotted in numbers aside the fairways, in the fairways, and around the greens. One even lies in a green, partitioning the adjoined putting surfaces of Holes 11 & 17. Holes 3 & 5 also share one monstrous green that is separated with a large tier. There’s a moderate amount of water on The South Course at the Reserve, mainly in the form of green-side ponds and narrow canals that run along and across several holes. The greens are tour quality, with true rolls, very fast speeds and fairly manageable breaks.

Sunset Grove Golf Club

Sunset Grove Golf Club is a short, relatively flat 9 hole course in Forest Grove, OR, which gives golfers a relaxed, rural afternoon of golf. Priced among the middle of the multitude of Hillsboro area 9 Hole courses, Sunset Grove is enjoyed for its casual approach to the game by those who frequent the course. With the exception of the first hole, located just off Highway 47, the rest of the course is secluded and quiet. The openness of the course is conducive to beginners, while the greens at Sunset Grove will challenge even the lowest handicaps.

Sunset Grove Golf Club provides short hole lengths among fairly flat farmlands, until you hit the greens. The grounds are fairly plush, although there can be some trouble spots in the fairways during the warmer months of the year. In between holes, the grounds are hard and unwatered, so it benefits you to keep it straight, although you are not always guaranteed a great lie in the summer, even in the fairway. The greens are another story. Sunset Grove manages to keep their greens in good shape, although they run a bit on the slow side when flat. However, many of the greens have a snowcone build to them, which can lead to putts running well past the hole if you don’t play the breaks given to you. With the relative ease of the course leading up to the greens, this can lead to higher scores than you would expect on such a short course. Water is present on two holes, one leading to the green on the Par 4 4th Hole, followed by the Par 3 5th, in which you must hit your tee shot over the pond. Sand is scarce, and the traps that are present are hard and could probably use a refresh.

Sunset Grove Golf Club is a smaller, family owned operation and lacks a few fundamental amenities. Like many 9 Hole courses there is no driving range, however a fairly large practice green greets you as you enter. The pros hop is very basic, with a few merchandise items and some available snacks and beverages. Sunset Grove does not enforce a dress code, which falls in line with the casual afternoon setting they play towards.

Summerfield Golf Course

Summerfield Golf Course, located in Tigard, OR, is an executive style course that weaves through the retirement community of the same name. Consisting of six Par 4’s and three Par 3’s, you get the opportunity to play every club in your bag, which is not always the case at an executive course. The Par 4’s at Summerfield play on the short side, with the longest coming in under 350 yards, allowing the longest of players ample opportunity to attack the green from the tee box. Summerfield Golf Course is built with the members of its surrounding community in mind, but has moments that provide a stiff challenge. In fact, some of the tightest fairways you will encounter in the Portland area reside on Summerfield’s grounds. On theses holes, a straight play and target golf is at a premium.

At the tee box, Summerfield Golf Course boasts two tee boxes with a twist. While many nine hole courses offer multiple tee boxes, Summerfield alternates the distance between the two, meaning they play to similar distances, but each provide a different look. On odd numbered holes you play the back tee, while on even numbered holes you play the front. When playing the “back nine” these are reversed. Water features play a role as you get to the back half of the course, and in one instance you play over water on your tee shot and approach on the same hole. Sand is prevalent throughout the course, primarily in the form of green side bunkers. The greens at Summerfield are average in speed, but generally roll well.

Stone Creek Golf Club

Stone Creek Golf Club, in Oregon City, OR, is a young, modern course, yet authentically Northwest. Portland’s own Peter Jacobson contributed to Stone Creek’s design, so it’s no surprise that the course highlights the beauty of its surroundings, maintains the integrity of its natural setting, and can withstand considerable rainfall. With an excellent drainage system, this is one of the area’s best winter tracks. In addition to its impeccable condition, the diverse array of course characteristics is a standout quality. Stone Creek provides a new test at every turn. There are beautiful, luxury homes bordering the south and west side, but the rest of the course is surrounded only by nature. Near the clubhouse, you can see Mt. Hood peering over the trees to the east. And true to its name, there are large stone boulders aesthetically plotted throughout several holes; an unofficial signature for this detailed track.

Stone Creek Golf Club is cohesively aligned with its constantly changing features. Ranging from open, links-style holes to tight, tree-lined dog legs, each hole is vastly unique. The front 9 contains a few of the wider holes, with expansive fairways, rolling terrain, deep-set bunkers and challenging greens. But the majority of the course, and most of the back 9, requires accurate navigation through Douglas firs, wetlands and large hills. The back 9 is arguably much harder than the front, due to this extensive elevation change and plethora of trouble areas. Holes 12-15, a notably difficult stretch, has the potential to take you out of your game prematurely with blind shots and hazards abound. Due to the excellent drainage at Stone Creek, the greens also remain in excellent shape year round. They provide a true roll and very fast speeds relative to the season. Overall, reaching the putting surfaces, not rolling them, will likely be your biggest challenge here.

In addition to a sophisticated test of golf, Stone Creek Golf Club provides nice practice grounds for Clackamas County golfers, and other nearby residents. They have a large, grass-surfaced driving range with well-marked targets. You can also practice the full array of short-game shots at their large practice green. The clubhouse is currently a manufactured structure, as the emphasis and focus of Stone Creek lies appropriately within the most important feature, the course itself. The clubhouse, though modest, is fully functional with a small café/dining area, as well as a standard merchandise selection.

Skamania Lodge Golf Course

Skamania Lodge Golf Course, in the Columbia River Gorge town of Stevenson, WA, is a high quality venue noted for its unique and tricky design. Built into the north bank of the Gorge, the scenic Skamania Lodge features extreme elevation changes and ultra tight target zones. Short distances on this regulation track offer some reprieve, but if this wind-filled river canyon lives up to its reputation, all favorability can be lost. The forested and tree-lined layouts can work in the golfer’s favor as shelter from the wind, but they’re more commonly known for consuming errant shots. Keen observation, careful club selection, and sharp accuracy are in higher demand than normal here at Skamania Lodge. Simply aiming down the middle and hitting the ball straight will not get it done. Surveyance of the land is at a premium in order to avoid the abundance of trees. It’s easy to blame a poor round here on its atypical design, as many golfers rarely play a course like this, but if it’s played as intended, its an honest test of golf. Besides, no two courses are alike and with its awe-inspiring setting in the Gorge, its amusing layout and wealth of natural features, the exceptional Skamania Lodge is no exception to the rule.

Skamania Lodge, as mentioned, features intense topography changes and must be navigated in a cart. Sloped, filtering fairways have a strong effect on shot results, and in conjunction with the trees, is undoubtedly the toughest aspect here. Even decent golfers should come equipped with plenty of extra golf balls. Thanks to relatively short yardage, long hitters have the luxury of clubbing down and maximizing their chance of safety, all while leaving a favorable distance on the approach. Shorter hitters will benefit from huge length advantages from the front tees, and ideally, should also be able to use conservative shot selection. Adding to the challenges here is a fair amount of water, notably on the front 9. Green side ponds, traversing creeks and neighboring hazards exist on a handful of holes. Sand is not much of a contributing factor to the difficulty of Skamania Lodge. In fact, most of the bunkers are located with the purpose of saving errant approaches from reaching the trees. The greens are kept in great shape with fast speeds and very true rolls. They provide a fair mix of size and sloping, relative to the difficulty of the hole design.

Kohl Creek Golf Course

Kohl Creek Golf Course, in Wilsonville, OR is a simple and user-friendly golf course with a quiet country setting. For newcomers to the game, this nine hole venue is a great place to gain on-course experience without being overwhelmed. For any golfer, it’s a peaceful atmosphere to enjoy a casual round of golf and the company of playing partners. While the course features are plain and signature features are minimal, the surrounding beauty of old growth trees and distant country hillsides make for a pleasant scene. Despite its rural environment, Kohl Creek Golf Course is within close proximity to Portland’s south suburbs, making it a convenient and affordable alternative to the city courses.

Kohl Creek Golf Course is a fairly flat golf course throughout. Its fairways are generous in width with straightforward hole layouts. The greens are average in size with flat to modest slope are are generally average in speed. Old growth forest surrounds the entire perimeter of the grounds with large trees lining many of the holes. Green side bunkers are sparse, but appear on a few holes.  Water comes in to play once, however there are numerous other marked hazards.

Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course

Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course, in Clackamas, OR, is a Par 3 Course hidden away in a small valley running alongside the Clackamas River, providing a wonderful opportunity for golfers of all skill levels to play together in a relaxed environment. Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course offers a practice green and a full size putting course between the first tee and the large event areas. Down the hill you will find a full size lighted driving range with open and covered stalls, as well as a separate short game practice area. If you warm up on the range before your round either tee-off from the forward tee on #1 or take the elevator back to the top of the hill to the main tees. The high quality of the maintenance at Sah-Hah-Lee golf course is very noticeable after just a couple of holes. Fairways and greens are pleasant in appearance and play just as nice. Although the greens may be smaller than your standard golf course, the great condition can be seen on both properly played approach shots as well as putts that will roll purely. It is quite impressive how much golf is packed onto this piece of land. The drainage system at Sah-Hah-Lee seems to be well above par. You can play this course during even the wettest months without having to worry about losing your ball in the fairways. About half the holes here include green side bunkers which understandably seem to be the only areas on the course affected by overly wet conditions.

With 18 Par 3’s, Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course provides an array of holes to work on you mid-range game. The steep tee shot at number one is a fun way to start your round, although choosing the right club will most likely prove difficult. #3 is a memorable hole that is designed very well and plays to a difficult green protected by water in front and trees behind. Although seven holes at Sah-Hah-Lee sit on the bank of the River, your best view of the water comes on the tee at #4. The 13th hole is visually impressive and should not be taken lightly due to its yardage. The tee shot at #16 may be the most daunting with plenty of trouble areas surrounding the sloped green. The finishing three holes at Sah-Hah-Lee golf course allow you to play some longer irons and will punish you for not staying straight off the tee.

Sah-Hah-Lee is ideal for beginners in that it will help introduce them to the game without having them intimidated by long holes, having to shape shots or worrying about devastating hazards while still being beneficial to the more experienced golfer. One benefit to beginners learning the game at Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course that cannot be overstated is the fact that they are actually focusing on one of the most crucial elements in becoming a successful golfer, iron play into greens. For the average amateur golfer, playing 18 holes of golf solely focused on shots from 100-200 yards seems like the perfect way to find improvement in one’s game very quickly. Whether it is the golfers challenge with their own ego or the very common discontent with the idea of “practicing”, this part of the game is usually the one that is focused on the least in a typical amateur’s golf career. In speaking with Co-Designer and General Manager of Sah-Hah-Lee golf course Steve Lisac, he made a very simple case for his golf course. He said “Those that are really serious about improving their golf game should play here twice as much as they do full sized golf courses.” Anyone that is dedicated to improving their game would have to agree.